Sixteen people were arrested for their participation
in a peaceful protest in Sundial, West Virginia today. Residents of the
Coal River Valley are fighting for the very lives of their children,
whose elementary school is under attack from the callous Mountaintop
Removal mining operations of Massey Energy. Coal dust from a coal prep
plant only 150 feet from the school enters through air intake vents,
causing asthma and other respiratory problems, and coating everything
with a toxic black powder.

Five local residents, including parents and
grandparents of children attending the elementary school solemnly
crossed a bridge onto Massey property, attempting to deliver a list of
demands to officials, and were arrested. Then, in a beautiful act of
solidarity, waves of supporters followed across the bridge with the same
list of demands.